The Toronto Maple Leafs will certainly be a team to keep an eye on leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. After entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations, the Maple Leafs have been disappointing this campaign. At the time of this writing, the Maple Leafs have a 27-23-9 record and are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings with 63 points. They are also eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
With how this season has gone for the Maple Leafs, there is an expectation that they will be sellers ahead of the deadline. One of their most notable trade candidates is forward Bobby McMann, as there is a chance that the pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) will be moved between now and the deadline.
If the Maple Leafs are unable to sign McMann to a contract extension and make him available for trade, he will generate a ton of interest. This is because he is an impactful top-nine forward who can put the puck in the net and plays a very physical game.
Due to this, let’s look at three teams that could make sense as trade destinations for the 29-year-old winger.
Oilers Have Been Linked to McMann Often This Season
The Edmonton Oilers undoubtedly are a potential trade destination to watch when it comes to McMann. It is no secret that the Oilers have the Maple Leafs forward on their radar, and it makes sense when noting that they need more secondary scoring. NHL insider Chris Johnston also recently predicted that the Oilers would be the team that lands McMann ahead of the deadline.
If the Oilers won the McMann sweepstakes, he would immediately improve their offensive production in their middle six. This is a major need right now for the Oilers, as they are not getting enough offense from their depth guys. Bringing in McMann would change things on that front.
Canadiens Should Try to Strike Rare Trade With Leafs for McMann
The Montreal Canadiens and Maple Leafs very rarely make trades due to their historic rivalry. Yet, with the Maple Leafs’ playoff hopes continuing to decrease, the Canadiens should consider kicking tires on McMann. The Canadiens could use another forward who provides a bit of everything in their middle six, and McMann’s bargain $1.35 million cap hit makes him a player that Montreal could afford.
With the Canadiens being a team on the rise, they would benefit by adding a forward who would not only give them more offense but also make them tougher. McMann’s gritty style of play would make him nice for the Canadiens to have when the games get more intense during the playoffs.
Stars Are in a Prime Position to Make A Splash for McMann
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Dallas Stars filed paperwork confirming that forward Tyler Seguin will miss the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs. With this, the Stars now have more cap space to work with and a need for another forward. Thus, it would make sense if they tried to add McMann to their top nine.
If the Stars acquired McMann, he could work very nicely on their second line with Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn. However, due to his versatility, he would move up and down the Stars’ lineup without any trouble.
Maple Leafs: 3 Potential Trade Destinations for Bobby McMann